Everton: Reporter hints Dyche could play star out of position

Everton defender Ashley Young may be played 'in more than one position' this term as Sean Dyche seeks to maximise his 'versatility', according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest news involving Ashley Young?

Earlier this window, Young became Everton's first summer signing after joining on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Aston Villa.

Speaking to Everton's official website, Young expressed his delight at being able to join the Toffees, stating: “I'm delighted to be an Everton player and to have joined this massive club. I can’t wait for the season to start and walking out at Goodison Park is going to be an unbelievable feeling and to hear the passionate fans behind me. The manager was important in me signing. I know him and know what his passion and desire is like. His honesty, will to work hard and his hunger for the game is second to none."

BBC Sport understand that Premier League newcomers Luton Town and Saudi Arabian clubs had shown interest in Young prior to his move to Everton.

Last term, Young made 32 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa and managed to notch a solitary goal in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Young scored on his debut for Everton last weekend against Wigan Athletic in a 1-0 pre-season victory at the DW Stadium and featured on the flank during the affair, which was where he operated in the earlier portion of his senior career before being converted into a full-back, as per The Daily Mail.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown reckons 38-year-old Young may 'occasionally' fill in as a winger for Everton due to his 'versatility' and crossing ability.

Brown told FFC: "He's still a great crosser of a ball. It wouldn't surprise me if occasionally we see him end up on the wing, but I do think he signed more to play as a cover full-back, possibly even to put pressure on one of the starters and play instead of one of them, but his versatility means that he could play more than one position this season."

What next for Everton?

Everton boss Dyche will hope to recruit some additional quality to add to his squad as he looks to avoid his side being dragged into yet another relegation battle.

According to Football Insider, the Toffees lead the race to sign Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto, who had impressed Dyche with his ability to function in several different positions.

Taking to Twitter X, journalist Alan Myers has delivered an update regarding Everton's pursuit of Almeria striker El Bilal Toure, stating: "Everton remain in negotiations with Almeria for El Bilal Toure' despite reports suggesting the player had already decided to join Atalanta The 21-year-old Mali striker is set to decide his future in the coming days with Everton having agreed a deal with Almeria, EFC still in it."

Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho has been identified as a potential alternative to Toure and is admired by Goodison Park chiefs, as per FootballTransfers.

In the next few weeks, we are likely to see progress on prospective arrivals as Everton gear up for the new Premier League campaign to commence.

Celtic Place New 22-Year-Old Defender On Transfer Wishlist

Celtic have their eyes on another new defensive target this summer, with the Hoops now tracking Maik Nawrocki, according to reliable journalist Pawel Golaszewski.

Who is Maik Nawrocki?

The 22-year-old currently plays his football for Legia Warsaw in Poland, but has criss-crossed between Germany and his native country over the course of his career. He's been in the Ekstraklasa though since he was 19, starting with Warta Poznan. Despite being only in his teens at the time, he was brought in from the Werder Bremen Under-19 outfit and played three times for them and managed to bag a goal to boot.

It prompted his switch to Warsaw and he instantly became a more frequent member of the first-team squad. He managed 19 league games in his opening campaign and, once more, he bagged himself a goal and an assist along the way. Having proven himself in that top division, he then built on those appearances a season later and helped drag Warsaw up to second in the table. He featured 25 more times in the league and added four more strikes to boot. It means that despite only being early on in his career, he already has nearly 50 games in Poland to his name and has proven he can get on the score-sheet from set pieces.

The youngster has yet to make his mark on the national team setup. He has been able to break into the fold for their Under-21 side in the past, making his debut for them in 2021 and featuring four times for them in total. However, he has been unable to make the step up and play for their main eleven. Nawrocki though could be about to switch clubs and countries – and that could lead to him being on the radar of Poland's selection team more.

Are Celtic signing Maik Nawrocki?

That's because, according to reliable Polish journalist Pawel Golaszewski, the defender could be snapped up by Celtic this transfer window. With the Scottish Premiership outfit desperate to add more options to their backline this summer, they have identified the 22-year-old as a potential target – and his report also states that they could be the "last days" of the talent's time at Warsaw.

The Hoops though will face competition for his signature from Galatasaray in Turkey, as the reporter said via his personal Twitter account: "In addition to Galatasaray, Celtic Glasgow entered the game for Maik Nawrocki. It seems that these are really the last days of the defender in Legia Warsaw."

Nawrocki would be a versatile option for Celtic if they were to seal a deal for him. He can play in either central defending position, having been used on both sides in the past, and has even been pushed out wide onto the right flank when needed.

It means that he could be a good option to provide depth in several areas, a sure boost to Brendan Rodgers' options back there. Even better is that he has also been used as a defensive midfielder too – so if there is no room for him in the backline, he can still get onto the field and provide a barrier for the opposition before the back four. The Poland man then could be a bit of a coup for the Hoops if they do make a move.

Mashud calls for domestic schedule rethink

Domestic cricket in Bangladesh should be scheduled during the cooler part of the year, and venues must have better facilities, the former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud has urged. Mashud has asked the BCB to make these changes after many players suffered in the ongoing heat wave across the country.In the 2016-17 season, the National Cricket League first-class tournament began in September but took a break to accommodate the Bangladesh Premier League T20 competition, which was held from November 8 to December 9. The NCL ended after a second phase that stretched from December 20 to January 6.The Bangladesh Cricket League, the four-team first-class competition, then took place from January 28 to March 8. The Dhaka Premier League, which began this season on April 12 and is likely to end in mid-June, has a history of scheduling delays as the major clubs want the top cricketers to participate in the List A competition. Since September last year, the Bangladesh team has been busy playing home or away, so it was hard for the BCB to make the clubs agree to start the DPL in March, when the top cricketers were in Sri Lanka.Mashud, who is also Prime Bank Cricket Club’s coach, said the major domestic competitions such as the DPL and the two first-class competitions must be completed by mid-April.”Implementing the domestic calendar during the season is everyone’s priority,” Mashud wrote in a Facebook post. “It won’t be possible to hold back the [Dhaka Premier] league this season but these concerns should be addressed ahead of the next season. I would urge the BCB to finish the longer-version and one-day competitions by mid-April. They can think of a T20 tournament when the weather gets hotter. I believe such a step will help Bangladesh cricket.”The temperature in Bangladesh touched 38 degrees last week. Mashud cited the examples of Gazi Group batsman Jahurul Islam and Prime Bank wicketkeeper Zakir Hasan, who suffered severe cramps during DPL matches. Zakir was particularly affected during Prime Bank’s May 21 match against Gazi Group Cricketers, suffering seizures despite being given an ice massage in the dressing room. He still hasn’t recovered from his cramps.The DPL has had to deal with other issues too. Avishek Mitra, the Mohammedan Sporting Club batsman, suffered a hamstring injury at the BKSP ground, where there was no ambulance to take him for treatment. In the end, the team had to improvise and use a cycle-van.Mashud also pointed out the effect of power failures, at the BKSP and Fatullah grounds, on players.”Like every other place in the country right now, power failure is also affecting the stadiums,” he wrote. “Cricketers don’t get adequate rest after returning from fielding for 50 overs. While there are generators in place for international matches, it is not the case for domestic games.”It is quite embarrassing to find such a situation in the only List A tournament in the country in which local and foreign stars participate. A bigger challenge awaits from May 24 when the Super League begins. Ramadan is also starting on May 27 which is a major concern for me as a coach.”

Sky Reporter Reveal Bayern Second Offer For Kane

Bayern Munich have prepared "a second offer" for Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, with the German club being the England international's "preferred destination" should he leave the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – What's the latest on Harry Kane?

Earlier this week German giants Bayern made an initial verbal offer to Spurs for the services of their talismanic captain and all-time leading goals scorer, Kane.

According to the Daily Mail, the opening offer was in the region of £60m, which was swiftly rejected by the north London side, who maintain their position that they would rather lose the player for free next year than sell him for a figure that low.

The publication also revealed that personal terms between the player and club had been agreed 'in principle', leaving the ball firmly in Daniel Levy and Co's court.

It would appear that the Bundesliga champions see the Englishman as one of their key targets this summer, as they are reportedly set to make a second offer to the north London club imminently.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, reporter Mark McAdam revealed the latest information on this unfolding transfer saga: "We are now being told by Sky Germany that there is a second offer being prepared, and this is a more formal offer in writing from Bayern Munich to Tottenham Hotspur.

"Their information is also that Harry Kane would be open to the move, and should he leave the Premier League, Bayern Munich would be his preferred destination.

"Of course, Spurs' stance has always been the same, they do not want to sell Harry Kane, they want to keep him, Ange Postecoglou would like him as part of squad for next season, and that they would be more happy to let him go on a free next season when his contract comes to an end.

"He is of course in the last year of his current Tottenham Hotspur deal at the moment and to try and find a replacement for man that scored 30 Premier League goals is almost impossible."

Just how good was Harry Kane last season?

In a season that saw headlines dominated by the sensational exploits of Erling Haaland, it has flown under the radar somewhat just how good of a campaign it was from an individual point of view for Kane.

The Walthamstow-born machine scored a seriously impressive 30 goals for a lacklustre Lilywhites side, coming up with a further three assists.

harry-kane-manchester-united-spurs

According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 7.51 across his 38 league appearances as well, highlighting that he wasn't just hiding behind a good goal tally.

His temporary boss Cristian Stellini certainly appreciated his goals in his short tenure, hailing the player as a "GOAT in this league" following their shock 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Guardiola is another great of the game that has never hidden his admiration for the England captain, lauding him as "exceptional" and "one of the best I have ever seen."

It is hard to argue against Kane being one of the Premier League's greatest ever players, and with that, it is easier to understand Spurs' position of being happier to lose him for free next year if they can get another year of exceptional service out of him.

Whatever happens, and wherever Kane plays next season, he will likely be challenging for the golden boot all over again.

Suryakumar Yadav picked for Vijay Hazare after issuing apology

Suryakumar Yadav has been added to Mumbai’s 14-member squad for the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy after he tendered an apology to the Mumbai Cricket Association for retweeting a post on Twitter that questioned his exclusion from the team for the Inter-state T20 tournament.”The president has accepted his apology and he has been cleared to play in the Vijay Hazare tournament. Surya had sent a letter yesterday and met with the president [Ashish Shelar] today,” MCA joint-secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar told ESPNcricinfo. “Surya wrote in his letter that such things wouldn’t happen in the future. He also said that it was the agency [that manages him] that had retweeted the post.”The Mumbai batsman had earlier been asked to show cause and appear before the MCA’s managing committee. Consequently, Suryakumar’s selection for the Vijay Hazare Trophy inter-state one-day tournament had been withheld pending the committee’s decision.Khanvilkar said on Tuesday that players were not allowed to comment on selection decisions on social media. Suryakumar, 26, has been involved in a few controversies over the last few years. Last year, Suryakumar was let off with a warning for tweeting his displeasure at opener Jay Bista’s omission from the Mumbai side for their semi-final game against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. He had also quit as Mumbai captain midway through an underwhelming 2014-15 season. At that point he was reprimanded by MCA officials after some players complained against him for using abusive language on the field and in the dressing room.Mumbai will take on defending champions Gujarat in the opening match of the tournament on February 25.

Mason Mount Transfer To Man United Deadline Set

A deadline has been set for the completion of Mason Mount's transfer to Manchester United from Chelsea.

Will Mount join Manchester United?

The Red Devils have already seen two bids rejected by Chelsea for Mount, the latter of which was worth somewhere between £50m-£55m when add-ons are taken into account. However, the Blues have stood firm and, while initially wanting £75m for the midfielder, would now accept a figure around the £60-65m mark.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, however, time could be running out for a move, with a short deadline set for the finalisation of the deal.

"The conversation between Man United and Chelsea for Mason Mount continues," stated the journalist. "Man United will bid again, as I told you. Mason Mount has an agreement with Man United, wants to go to Man United, but timing will be crucial."

"Sources believe that this deal has to be completed by the end of next week. So this is why for Chelsea this is another crucial point."

If Romano's sources are correct then a deal for Mount would need to be done by July 2nd, putting a potentially difficult deadline on an already tricky deal.

As Romano states, United are expected to bid again for the 24-year-old, who only managed 24 appearances in the Premier League last season for a chaotic Chelsea side who had three separate managers during the campaign.

New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly eager to hold contract talks with Mason Mount as his current deal expires in the summer of 2024. However, his time at Chelsea seems all but over now, with the club not wanting to lose him for free.

For United, signing Mount from a rival would be an astute piece of business. The attacking midfielder managed a combined 70 goals and assists in 195 appearances for the Blues and has thoroughly impressed every manager he has played under.

Who else will Man United sign?

Naturally, Man United are not only interested in signing Mount and are expected to bring in several players during the transfer window. However, even Erik ten Hag himself has admitted to being unsure over available funds given the club's current ownership situation.

It appears United are interested in signing a central striker this summer, with Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund all having been linked. It would take a whopping transfer fee to lure any of them to Old Trafford this summer and United have already pulled out of a potential deal for Kane as a result.

The Red Devils were strongly linked with Napoli sensation Kim Min-jae as a centre-back option considering his €50m release clause, but it seems Bayern Munich have jumped ahead of the English club in the queue.

Ten Hag may have to wait for clarification on the takeover process before being able to make significant moves into the transfer market this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur Open Talks Over "Outstanding" £60m Star

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Leicester City over a summer move for James Maddison, according to a recent report from 90min.

Is James Maddison leaving Leicester?

Back in May, Simon Jordan told talkSPORT that Maddison would be "one of the first to leave" Leicester this summer, and following their relegation from the Premier League, the midfielder looks like he will be on the move.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Aston Villa are "in the race" for the Englishman, while Newcastle United are "still in talks" having started work on a move back in January. He also claimed Tottenham "may decide to take some concrete steps soon".

Galetti confirms the 26-year-old wants to leave, and The Athletic reports his current club could receive around £40m given his contract is set to expire next summer, though his price may be driven up if a bidding war breaks out.

Tottenham have now taken one step closer towards lodging an official bid, as they have opened talks with Leicester about a summer move for the former Coventry City man, who they have been interested in on a long-term basis.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou has already given the move the green light, but 90min reports the Foxes could hold out for as much as £60m, given the level of interest from numerous top clubs.

Spurs are hoping to beat Newcastle to the England international's signature, and his entourage has also spoken to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal over the last six months.

Is Maddison signing for Tottenham?

One potential stumbling block for Tottenham is the fact they do not have any European football on offer next season, while Newcastle will be in the Champions League, so a move to St James' Park could be a very attractive proposition.

However, the aforementioned 90min report details that Newcastle are unwilling to spend much more than £50m, so if Spurs outbid the Magpies, they could be well-placed to win the race for the Leicester star.

james-maddison-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-premier-league

If the Lilywhites are able to complete a move, the midfielder could be a very good acquisition, having been hailed as "outstanding" by journalist Henry Winter back in 2021, while he also impressed considerably last season.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.24 in the Premier League, Maddison was ranked as the Foxes' best-performing player by a huge margin, amassing a total of ten goals and nine assists – more goal contributions than any other player.

Daniel Levy Slammed For Spurs Call On 51 y/o

Journalist Alasdair Gold has slammed the Tottenham Hotspur board for the "bewildering" decision not to try and appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.

Did Levy try to hire Pochettino again?

In the last few days, it has been confirmed that the former Spurs boss will be joining London rivals Chelsea this summer.

As per Sky Sports News, the 51-year-old Argentine will arrive as the Blues' new head coach on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

It will no doubt be strange for many Tottenham fans to see a man once so loved, now in the dugout of another Premier League team – who also happens to be one of their club's biggest rivals.

And what will hurt even more is the fact that they too are in need of hiring a new manager and yet Daniel Levy and the board didn't even approach Pochettino about a possible return to north London.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold confirmed that it's true, "he was never sounded out" and then suggested it was a baffling decision.

He said (4:45): “I've seen people saying, you know, blaming it all on Levy, the club ENIC, whoever you want to call it, the board… for not ever making that phone call to him, which it is bewildering that he was never sounded out, definitely.

"But there you go…”

Why do Spurs fans love Pochettino?

It's no secret that a large section of the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase would have loved to see their former coach return this summer.

Indeed, earlier on in the season, during an unconvincing win over Brighton & Hove Albion, the home crowd was heard loudly singing Pochettino's name.

The Argentine was sacked back in 2019 without winning a trophy but led the side to a Champions League final and brought an attacking brand of football to the club that was appreciated by the fans.

Indeed, journalist Graham Hunter has told Chelsea supporters to expect a team that loves "possession of the ball" and is "always attacking, playing to win – not to draw."

With that in mind – and the small fact that Tottenham haven't been able to find a manager who actually wants to join – it does seem odd that Levy and co have not seriously considered  speaking to Pochettino about a possible return.

All in all, it seems as though Spurs' loss will be Chelsea's gain as he now arrives back in the Premier League while his former side remain directionless for the time being.

Arsenal Could Secure £90m "Monster" Rice Partner

Arsenal remain firmly in the race to bring a key component of one of the Premier League's feel-good stories of the season to the Emirates.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Arsenal?

That's according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who offered an update on the Moises Caicedo saga on his YouTube channel. The Gunners were once again name-checked, thus reinforcing their continued efforts to tempt the Ecuador international to north London.

The Italian claimed: "Brighton hope for a bidding war for Caicedo; so they hope that other clubs like Arsenal, who really wanted him in January, but also Manchester United, can jump into the race.

"The Caicedo situation remains open."

The £90m price tag that Brighton and Hove Albion have reportedly slapped on him remains.

Would Moises Caicedo improve Arsenal?

Given their shared interest in Declan Rice too, all signs do seem to be pointing towards a remarkable double swoop to revolutionise Mikel Arteta's engine room.

Should Arsenal pull this off, the combination they would surely strike up would them even stronger title challengers for next term, boasting two of the division's top central midfielders and backed up by the experienced Thomas Partey.

Also, not only are both enjoying rich veins of form, but their attributes complement one another perfectly. Young and full of defensive steel, their creativity still manages to shine through despite the varied respective levels of their teams.

For example, for a side that has just secured their spot in the Europa League for next campaign, Caicedo has had his 7.09 average rating maintained through 1.2 key passes, 1.5 interceptions and 2.8 tackles per game, via Sofascore. However, at 5 foot 10, he is hardly the most imposing star, even though performance analyst and sports scientist Dr Rajpal Brar suggests he is still a "monster".

declan-rice-arsenal-transfer-moises-caicedo-gossip-arteta-vieira-fabregas

Therefore, one would probably say that his perfect partner would need to act as more of a hulking dictator, enforcing their will on the game by quietly breaking up play and keeping the tempo ticking. That way, the 21-year-old can be free to be his usual workmanlike self.

This arguably describes Rice perfectly, who stands at 6 foot 1 and has adorned such a role in east London for many years now. However, just this season he has started to add creativity from deep that is making him the perfect all-around midfield general.

His 7.20 rating makes him comfortably the best performer at his club, and his six goal contributions are supplemented by an 88% pass accuracy and 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Having both enjoyed standout years down south, a relocation to north London could see them immediately strike up one of the league's best midfield pairings. Their physicalities complement one another, and their attributes are perfectly aligned to make them both a creative force and an unstoppable defensive unit. Manchester City should be fearful if these moves come to fruition.

أنشيلوتي ينتقد حكم مباراة خيتافي.. ويكشف عن موقف روديجير من المشاركة في الديربي

انتقد المدير الفني لفريق ريال مدريد، كارلو أنشيلوتي، حكم مباراة خيتافي بعد أن تحصل على بطاقة صفراء في اللقاء الذي جمع بين الفريقين، وكشف في حديثه أيضاً عن تطورات إصابة أنطونيو روديجير.

ونجح ريال مدريد في الفوز على مضيفه خيتافي بنتيجة 2/0، في الجولة الـ22 من الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم “لاليجا”.

وبهذا الفوز، ارتقى رصيد ريال مدريد إلى النقطة 57 في صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني، فيما تجمد رصيد خيتافي عند النقطة 29 نقطة في المركز العاشر.

اقرأ ايضاً.. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني بعد نهاية الجولة الـ 22

وقال كارلو أنشيلوتي في المؤتمر الصحفي عقب المباراة: “أخبرت الحكم أنها لم تكن بطاقة صفراء وأنها ركلة جزاء، أخرج لي البطاقة الصفراء”.

وعن روديجير: “روديجير يمكن أن يلعب ضد أتلتيكو مدريد، سنرى في الأيام المقبلة، ولكن أعتقد أنه سيكون من الصعب للغاية عليه أن يغيب عن هذه المباراة، لأنه مُحارب”.

وواصل أنشيلوتي: “إذا فزنا في المباراتين المقبلتين، فسنحصل على 6 نقاط إضافية وسيكون ذلك أمرًا جيدًا، لا شيء أكثر وسنواصل، لكن الموسم طويل جدًا”.

وأكد المدرب الإيطالي: “أخرجت فينيسيوس لأن المباراة كانت على وشك الانتهاء.، في الشوط الثاني، قمنا بتغيير نظام اللعب للتحكم بشكل أكبر في المباراة”.

وأفاد أنشيلوتي: “يلعب خيتافي كرة القدم بالمبارزات الثنائية واللعب الهوائي، لم تكن مباراة سهلة على الإطلاق”.

وواصل : “تشواميني سيغيب عن الديربي أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بسبب تراكم البطاقات الصفراء”. عن خوسيلو: “خوسيلو يفعل كل ما في وسعه للاستمرار هنا، إنه شيء عظيم وأنا سعيد بوجوده، إنه هدية من السماء”.

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